You could crochet an adorable baby blanket just like this one using the corner to corner crochet technique. Sarah Zimmerman shows you how to do it in her fun corner-to-corner crochet class from Annie’s.

Why Learn How to Crochet Corner to Corner?

There are bunches of compelling reasons you might want to learn how to crochet corner to corner. For starters, corner-to-corner crochet is one of the hottest craft trends right now. Perhaps you’ve already seen some of the amazing projects people are designing using this technique. Blankets, throws and afghans are some of the most popular corner-to-corner crochet projects, but you can make a wide variety of different projects using this technique. I’ve seen beautiful scarves, pillows, dishcloths and table runners made in corner-to-corner crochet.

What I find most appealing about this technique: It offers you an interesting new way to create colorful pictorial patterns in crochet. In this regard, it has some similarities to the other techniques you can use for crocheting graphic designs:

Filet crochet

Tapestry crochet

Cross stitch on crochet

BUT this technique is pretty different from all of those, and it offers some advantages over each of those techniques. For example, I LOVE tapestry crochet, but the fabric can get thick and cumbersome when you’re working with more than 3 colors in the same piece. This is not a worry with corner-to-corner crochet.

I LOVE pictorial filet crochet patterns, but most filet crochet patterns are only one color. It’s also easier to see the picture when you crochet with fine threads and small steel hooks — which can get fiddly. With corner-to-corner crochet you have the option to make your designs either colorful or monochromatic, and the yarns can be as thick or thin as you like without having it adversely affect the visibility of the picture you are crocheting. If you enjoy fiddly projects with fine threads and steel hooks, you can certainly use those materials to create spectacular corner-to-corner crochet projects.

Cross stitch on crochet gives you unlimited options for colors and color placement, but its disadvantage is that it is a really slooooooooow technique. I find corner-to-corner crochet to be much faster.

Pictorial patterns aren’t your only possible design options with corner-to-corner crochet. Even solid-colored projects are interesting to work in this technique. If you want to crochet a diagonal stripe, it’s much more intuitive to do so using corner-to-corner crochet than it is to use tapestry crochet.

So whether you prefer solid-colored projects or colorful ones, either way, this is a technique that is well worth learning. I was really excited to learn about it and am excited to incorporate the technique into my repertoire of crochet skills.

If this sounds like a technique you would like to learn how to do, Sarah Zimmerman is a crochet designer who should definitely be on your radar. Sarah has mastered the corner-to-corner crochet technique — and she can help you learn how to master it, too.

Learn How to Crochet Corner-to-Corner With This Video Class From Sarah Zimmerman and Annie’s.

Sarah has teamed up with Annie’s Crafts to create a high-quality video class intended to teach you the basics of corner-to-corner crochet. The practice project for the class is an adorable baby blanket featuring cute animal motifs: a lion, a panda bear, an elephant and a monkey. The animal squares are alternated with solid-colored blocks. This is an ideal design for beginners to the technique. That’s because all those solid blocks give you the perfect opportunity to master the single-color version of the corner-to-corner crochet stitch before you move onto learning how to do the more complex blocks that require color changes.

This practical project also gives you a chance to make something really useful while you perfect your corner-to-corner crochet skills.

You can attend Sarah’s class without ever leaving your house, so it’s about as convenient as you can get. In times past, you had to go out of your way to attend a class of this quality; if you were lucky enough to have an innovative local yarn store in your area, or lucky enough to attend a convention, you’d have been able to. Luckily, now there’s no need to invest in expensive airfare, hotel rooms and convention admission if those things are not in your current budget; Annie’s Crafts has made it easy and affordable to access amazing craft classes from home. While I do recommend attending classes, conventions and workshops in person if you have the opportunity to do so, those are no longer your only options for taking truly outstanding crochet classes.

There are two different ways you can access this corner-to-corner crochet class: on DVD, or through Annie’s online portal. Either way, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the instructor, Sarah, questions. The video is really clear and helpful, so you’ll probably find that you won’t need to take advantage of this option — but it’s nice to know you do have the option if you need it. If there’s something that just doesn’t seem clear to you when you watch the video, or if you get stuck when you’re working any part of the baby blanket, the class materials include instructions for how to contact Sarah and ask for her help.

Crochet Skill Level Required for This Class: “Confident Beginner”

The team at Annie’s has given this DVD a skill level rating of “confident beginner”. What that means: Your chances for success with this class are best if you have already learned your basic crochet stitches. For this particular project, you’ll want to have a working knowledge of the chain,slip stitch,single crochet and double crochet stitches. This class does not make any attempt to teach you how to crochet starting at the beginning; in this class, Sarah focuses specifically on teaching the corner-to-corner crochet technique. She does, however, teach you several of the other mechanical skills you’ll need to construct and finish a blanket (like how to join your squares together, how to weave in your loose ends, etc).

One thing you have to beware of when you learn new crochet skills online: There are some crochet bloggers out there who are not really all that experienced with crochet. (No, I’m not going to name any names here). I’ve been crocheting for more than 35 years, and when I spend time looking at other crafters’ tutorials and videos, it is painfully obvious to me that there are some bloggers out there who have not put in the time it takes to master the techniques they are attempting to teach you.

This is not a worry with Sarah Zimmerman’s corner-to-corner crochet class. It is obvious to me that Sarah Zimmerman has invested the time it takes to become an expert at the technique she is teaching you. This is one reason you’ll want to consider learning this technique from her class.

I think you’ll find this class especially beneficial if you are not already an experienced crocheter. If you’re a beginner at crochet, I think you will find it helpful to watch Sarah’s way of working — the way she holds her yarn and her hook, and the way she manipulates them to work her crochet stitches, and the speed at which she is able to work because of the way she expertly uses her hands in harmony with each other. If you’re attempting to learn how to crochet by using books, and you’re struggling but not ready to give up yet, my opinion is that this class could really be helpful to you. It gives you a fantastic opportunity to watch an experienced crocheter with the aid of exceptionally helpful camera angles.

In some ways, I think this class is going to be more helpful than even taking an in-person crochet class would be. There are a couple of reasons for this:

There are cultural “personal space” barriers to worry about with a real live instructor. Unless it’s your mom, sister or grandma teaching you how to crochet, you can only comfortably get so close to your instructor. This video has removed those cultural “personal space barriers” and gets your attention focused right on Sarah’s hands in such a way that you don’t even think twice about it; it isn’t an uncomfortable experience at all. Whereas it could be an uncomfortable experience trying to get this close to a crochet instructor in a live class setting, particularly one where there are many students participating and you have to sort of fight for space to see what the instructor is doing.

You don’t have to worry about anyone thinking you are an idiot if you don’t get everything the first time the teacher explains it. Whereas in a live class setting, you might feel uncomfortable asking the instructor to demonstrate another 13 or 56 times, with this class, you can watch any part you need to as many times as you want. Just play it again. And again. And again. As many times as it takes for you to get it right.

The primary focus of this class, of course, is learning how to do the corner-to-corner crochet technique. There are additional crochet skills and techniques you’ll learn from this video:

How to weave in your loose ends of yarn securely so they will not come undone. This is important!

How to join your blanket squares almost invisibly using the mattress stitch. I personally found it difficult to learn this stitch from written tutorials, and I didn’t really get it until I saw it demonstrated on video. This stitch is really useful to know; if you haven’t already mastered it, I think you will be glad to see Sarah demonstrate it for you. She is an expert at this stitch; her expertise shines through in both her clear and simple explanation and the tidy, even stitches she makes in her demonstration. This stitch is really helpful for any crafter to understand, as you can use it for seaming just about any type of crochet or knitting project that requires one side or piece to be stitched to another. In this class, you’ll be using mattress stitch for joining your crocheted squares to create the finished baby blanket. Long after you’re finished with the class, you’ll be able to continue using it in other ways — perhaps for things like seaming one side of a cowl to the other, sewing up the sides of fingerless gloves or attaching trims to your projects.

How to prep your yarn and keep everything organized. It is obvious that Sarah has put a TON of thought into this, so the insights she shares on this topic are valuable.

How to read a corner-to-corner crochet graph — including a genius tip for how to avoid having to keep re-counting over and over again. If you’ve struggled with understanding C2C graphs before, I think Sarah’s simple and straightforward explanation will clear up the mysteries for you (but if it doesn’t, she is happy to answer your questions if you message her through the online class portal).

How to change colors in corner-to-corner crochet. Sarah demonstrates this for you multiple times throughout the class because it is a technique you’ll use frequently. This is an important skill to master, and you’ll have the benefit of seeing how she does it in several different places throughout the pattern.

How to carry a yarn color up to your working position. This is another exceptionally helpful skill for use on some multicolored corner-to-corner crochet projects. If you don’t already know how to do this, you’ll definitely want to learn this secret; there are many instances in which it will enable you to avoid having to cut your yarn and re-attach it, saving valuable yarn as well as working time and end-weaving time.

When it comes time to finish your project, you might be disappointed if there are areas in your colorwork that look a little messy. Sarah shares a secret for easily fixing the messy-looking areas — without you having to unravel or re-work anything. I think you’re going to love this! (For those of you who’ve worked some of my multicolored crochet patterns in the past, I’ll give you a hint: It IS NOT my usual, totally time consuming method of using surface crochet slip stitches around the messy areas.)

The Best Things About This Class

The video class makes this technique marvelously clear, whereas written tutorials do not generally manage to accomplish the same level of clarity. Before I watched this video, I looked at bunches of different corner-to-corner crochet tutorials — and had a hard time figuring out what exactly I was supposed to be doing. As it turns out, this is technique is easy and logical when you see a human being demonstrating it. However, there are some complexities that are hard to communicate using only written text and pictures.

The videography is exceptional. I had to watch parts of the class again because instead of paying attention to the subject matter, I was busy wondering about how they managed to get the shots so perfectly aimed above Sarah’s hands that it seems you’re looking right down at them. Amazing!

Many crochet videos are shot at awkward angles that don’t allow you to see the instructors hands as clearly as you might like to. That is absolutely not an issue here. You’ll be able to see Sarah’s hands just about as clearly as you can see your own hands when you crochet.

The crochet baby blanket presented in this video is attractive, appealing and worth the time investment, yet easy enough for people who have never crocheted corner-to-corner before.

Sarah is a wonderfully engaging teacher. Her presentation in the video was well-rehearsed enough to be nearly flawless, yet spontaneous enough to be interesting to watch.

Sarah uses clear, precise language throughout the entire one-hour and 21 minute class video presentation. I didn’t catch any factual errors or unclear instructions in my initial screening of this video. There is one bit of errata that the video team at Annie’s clearly corrected right in the online portal — there’s no need to go looking for it online.

I’ve watched hundreds of crochet videos on the Internet; fact checking independently produced craft videos for a media company was also part of a former job description of mine. Thanks to those experiences, I became aware that many of the crochet videos in existence contain unclear instructions, horrendous factual errors, logic errors, math errors, incorrect terminology, mediocre projects, inefficient methods and/or unworkable camera angles. My conclusion has been that a lot of unsuspecting people are wasting a lot of valuable time with crochet videos that are not worth watching. YIKES!

I bring all this up to help you understand how significant it is that this video does not have any such problems.

My opinion: Your time is the most valuable thing you have. If you want to learn new crochet techniques, you’re wise to seek out videos as a fast-track method for achieving the skills you want. It’s one of the quickest, smartest and most efficient methods available to you — but that’s only assuming you start with top-quality videos to watch. When you’re serious about improving your skills, you unfortunately have to be really picky about the videos you learn from. It is all too easy to waste time on second-rate videos that don’t teach you what you really need to know — or worse yet, teach you things that are downright incorrect. While there are some high quality free crochet videos available online, my experience has been that you are likely waste a lot of time looking for the good ones. That’s time you could be spending on actually learning and improving your crochet skills.

This is a top quality video featuring a professionally designed project and expert instructions — exactly the type of resource you want to invest your time in.

About Sarah Zimmerman, the Class Instructor

Sarah is not only a talented crochet designer; she actually has been formally trained in the art of graphic design.

Conclusion

I highly recommend Sarah Zimmerman’s “Learn Corner-To-Corner Crochet” class from Annie’s Crafts. If you have a desire to learn how to crochet corner-to-corner plus money to spend on improving your crochet skills, this video is a wise use of resources.

Annie’s offers quite a few interesting video classes. I chose this class as the one I wanted to review because corner-to-corner crochet was a technique I found perplexing at first. I’m pretty adept at deciphering cryptic crochet instructions — so I figure that, if I had a hard time understanding this, bunches of you probably would, too. My experience was that it took a HUGE investment of brainpower and deductive reasoning to figure out the corner-to-corner crochet technique just from studying the free photo tutorials that are available online. But once you watch this video, I’m positive that you’ll be empowered with the ability to better understand all the amazing free corner-to-corner tutorials, patterns and resources that crochet designers have been posting — at least, that was the case for me.

Where to Buy the Learn to Crochet Corner-to-Corner Class

Both formats for this class are available for sale at the Annie’s website:

A DVD version— You have to wait for the DVD version of the class to be sent to you by snailmail — but once it arrives, you’ll have a tangible, gift-wrappable item you can hold in your hands. This is a great buy if you want to give the class as a gift to another crafter, or if you prefer to watch the class on your TV / DVD player instead of a laptop, computer or tablet. (Of course, you can also watch it on any computer or device that has a DVD player).

When I designed this crocheted square, I specifically did so with the idea of using it to make baby afghans. However, it didn’t take me long to realize that the pattern could also be used for making all kinds of other interesting projects. So far I’ve used this chart to make two similar baby blanket designs, plus several pairs of potholders. I can think of many different ideas for how to use it; I think it would also be lovely to use to design pretty things for Valentine’s Day. If you have other ideas about how it should be used, please do feel free to adapt it as you wish.

Maria and Sara, please be sure to check your email ASAP (including your spam folder, just in case.) I’m hoping to hear back from you before 7-23-2015 at midnight, Eastern time, to confirm your contact information and other details. After I hear back from you, I will forward your info to the book’s publicist so she can connect you with your copy of the book you won.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered the giveaway! Please know that I really appreciate your interest, and I also really appreciate the great response from all of you. Your presence here in this community means a lot to me and Mike!

Hello everyone! Today is July 13, 2015 and you’ve arrived at the first stop on the blog tour for two of Alla Koval’s latest crochet pattern books. These books are the first two publications in a series called “Imagical Seasons: Crochet Couture for Kids 2-12.”

Do you enjoy any of the following?

Crocheting lovely baby blankets or coverlets

Crocheting gorgeous, feminine lace projects

Crocheting clothing or accessories for girls aged 2-12

Crocheting projects for warm-weather using spring or summer crochet patterns

If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, I think you’re going to want to get in on this giveaway — and you’ll probably also want to take a closer look at these two new crochet pattern collections that offer you the opportunity to enjoy all of the above options.

Volume 1 of the Imagical Seasons collection is devoted to spring crochet patterns, and Volume 2 is devoted to summer crochet patterns. These books are delightful compilations of lovely, lacy projects including baby blankets, girls’ accessories, girls’ clothing, and components like lace edgings and motifs.

These books include helpful, detailed instructions including symbol crochet charts, schematics and written instructions. So whichever type of instructions you prefer, you’re covered.

Want more info about these books? Please be sure to take a look at my detailed book reviews and the product detail pages at Amazon.com:

What We’re Giving Away:

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Volume 1, Spring; and another lucky winner will receive a copy of Volume 2, Summer, compliments of the publisher and Alla Koval. The giveaway is open worldwide, except where prohibited by law. Winners in the USA and Canada can choose between a paperback copy of the book or a digital copy. Winners outside the USA will receive digital downloads. Winners are responsible for paying any taxes or duties that may be imposed in their country or area.

How to Enter the Giveaway:

The winner will be randomly selected from among qualifying comments on this blog post.

Want to win one of these books? Here’s how to get your entries in the drawings:

Take a look at my reviews and the Amazon product pages, linked above.

Come back to this page and leave a comment telling us which project in each book you’d be most excited to make!

To get up to two extra entries in the giveaway, you can post a link to my book reviews of the Imagical Seasons crochet books in your crochet blog, craft blog or personal blog — then leave an additional comment on this post letting me know where to find your links.

Be sure to include a functioning email address (one that you actually check!) when you comment — so we have a way to contact you if you win the book. If you enter your email address in the spot where our blogging software directs you to enter it, it will not be displayed with your comment. For your own privacy, PLEASE do not put your email address in the text of your actual comment.

Post your comment any time before July 19, 2015 at midnight (Eastern Standard Time.)

If all goes according to plan, we’ll contact the winners by email shortly thereafter — and I’ll try my best to announce the winners on the blog sometime the week of July 20th. I ask that you have patience if the announcement is not made immediately. I am pregnant, and it’s close to the time of my baby’s due date. If my little one decides to make an unexpected early appearance, there will be a delay in making the announcement. Thanks so much for your understanding.

More Highlights From the Blog Tour:

Click here to check out some insights crochet designer Alla Koval has shared about this brand new series of crochet pattern books — plus bunches of other interesting tips and tidbits that any crochet enthusiast will find helpful. Alla discusses a variety of topics, including tips for new crocheters, insights about what it’s like to write a book, and the scoop on some of her absolute favorite crochet resources. You won’t want to miss this!

SPECIAL DEAL for Blog Tour Participants! — Buy the print edition for $24.95 and receive the digital download for free (retail value $19.95). To take advantage of this deal, use promo code IMAGICAL.

Best wishes to all of you with your giveaway entries! Can’t wait to see who the winners will be — and best of all, I cannot wait to see the fabulous projects y’all will be crocheting once you get your hands on these beautiful patterns.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO,

Amy Solovay

Photo Credits: Book cover photos are courtesy of Alla Koval/IMagicalSeasons.com

Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a review copy of these books. I’ve done my best to express my honest, carefully-considered opinion about the books on this page and in my review. There is no financial relationship, or for that matter any relationship, between me and the publisher, or between me and the author. The Amazon links in this post are affiliate links.

Girls Summer Crochet Lace Patterns by Alla KovalDo you enjoy crocheting for a girl aged between 2 and 12 years old — perhaps a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece or friend? Or perhaps your charity crochet efforts involve making beautiful things for girls in this age group.

I’m thinking those of you do enjoy crocheting for young ladies will be super excited to preview this sneak peek of a new crochet lace pattern collection for girls. These are all summer-friendly patterns that are ideal for both working on and wearing in the warm weather months. They’re beautiful, feminine designs that will appeal to little girls.

These finished projects would make fantastic gifts. It’s notoriously challenging to find suitable summer crochet patterns to use for making birthday gifts. If your beloved girl was born in the summer months, this collection is definitely worth taking a look at, because it offers many lovely gift-worthy project ideas.

These projects would also be useful Christmas gifts for those in warm climates. I’m thinking Californians and Floridians are going to get lots of mileage out of this book, because many of the designs would be useful year-round in warm-weather regions.

This book also includes a couple of gorgeous blanket patterns. Are you in need of a summertime baby shower gift, a summer coverlet for a girl’s bed, or a fabulous project for a Project Linus donation? If so, I think you’re likely to want to get your hands on a copy of this book.

Want to “meet” the book’s author, Alla Koval, and find out some of the interesting insights she has shared about this book, her book-writing process and her favorite crochet resources? If so, I invite you to check out this designer interview with Alla Koval. I found it interesting to learn about her take on what it’s like to write a book, the latest trends that are influencing her design work, and her other favorite crafts and hobbies.

If you want to try to win a copy of the book for yourself, I suggest visiting here again tomorrow morning, July 13, 2015 for the first giveaway! We’re celebrating the release of this gorgeous pattern collection with a virtual book tour. You’ll be able to visit 10 different blogs to find out more about the book and how other crocheters like it. My fellow crochet bloggers and I be sharing the full scoop, including the following:

Bunches more project photos

A special offer you can take advantage of

Interviews with the author; you’ll find insights about some of her favorite crochet stitches and resources; her take on the latest developing crochet trends; helpful hints any crochet enthusiast can use; plus insights into her process for learning how to crochet, writing a book, pattern design, and more.

Book reviews with more details about the projects, and about what these patterns are like to work on

Not to mention, of course, the part I’m sure you’ll be looking forward to the most: the book giveaways!

You won’t want to miss this…

I’ll be your hostess at the first stop on the blog tour, and I’m kicking it off right here tomorrow morning at 8 am, Eastern time, if all goes according to plan.

Best wishes to all of you with your giveaway entries! Can’t wait to see who the winners will be — and best of all, I cannot wait to see the fabulous projects y’all will be crocheting once you get your hands on these beautiful patterns.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO,

Amy Solovay

Photo Credits: All photos courtesy of Alla Koval/IMagicalSeasons.com, and used with permission.

Disclosure: The publisher provided a complimentary review copy of this book. This is not a compensated review, and there is no financial or other relationship between me and the book publisher, or me and the author. I’ve done my best to post an unbiased review offering my honest opinions about the book and its pros and cons. The links included in this post and in my book reviews are affiliate links.

Free Knitting & Crochet Newsletter

Welcome! I’m Amy…

...textile designer, author, liveaboard cruising sailor, cat lover, wife and mama. This is Mike, my husband, the captain of our sailboat, and the tech guy who keeps this knitting and crochet website running smoothly. We invite you to click here to learn more about us.